Cradle unit for apron type fiber attenuating apparatus



April 12, 1960 a. c; COLE 2,932,058

CRADLE UNIT-FOR APRON TYPE FIBER ATTENUATING APPARATUS Filed Dec. 11, 1957 3 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR.

Burr l- April 12, 1960 B. c. COLE 2,932,068

CRADLE UNIT FOR APRON TYPE FIBER ATTENUATING APPARATUS Filed Dec. 11, 1957 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. Bu/reZ C Cole W ,m/J/

Arrorrveys April 12, 1960 B. c. COLE 2,932,058

CRADLE UNIT FOR APRON TYPE FIBER ATTENUATING APPARATUS Filed Dec. 11, 1957 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 j 1 g 5 v Burrel g g le BWIMYLW A 'orNejs CRADLE UNIT FOR APRGN TYPE FIBER ATTENUATIN G APPARATUS Burrel Cole, Columbus, Ga assiguoryby mesne assignments, to Small Business Administration- Application December 11, 1957, Serial No. 702,125 16 Claims. (Cl. 19- 131) This invention relates to apron type fiber attenuating apparatus and more particularly to a cradle unit for such apparatus.

Heretofore, cradles for retaining nose bars have commonly been held in position and prevented from shifting by partially surrounding and contacting either the top middle line rolls or both the bottom and top middle line drawing roll unit. This contact increases friction and wear between the cradles and middle line rolls and in many instances after a period of sustained use will result in the cradles being worn and shifted out of proper position. Also, the contact point between the cradlesand rolls requires lubrication which is not preferred since a dry operation of fiber attenuating apparatus has been found to be more desirable.

The present invention employs a cradle positioned 'between the front and middle line roll units of an apron type fiber attenuating apparatus which does not contact any of the drawing rolls and thereby eliminates friction and wear between the rolls and the cradle and does not require lubrication.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a cradle unit of the character designated which is adapted for solely supporting both the lower and upper nose bars therein and can be easily installed in fiber attenuating apparatus.

A further object of this invention is to provide a cradle that is adjustable horizontally and vertically between the front and middle line rolls thereby providing wire variations in the positioning of the cradles between the rolls.

An additional object of this invention is to provide a cradle slidably mounted on a horizontal support extending substantially parallel to the rolls and adapted for engaging stop means to position the cradle out of contact with the rolls while allowing the cradle to slide relative to the stop means for disengagement therewith, the cradle being restrained against sliding movement on thesupport by tension means andbein'g adapted to be shifted by hand or other means out of engagement with the stop means whereby the nose bars can be easily removed and apron tension released.

Apparatus embodying features of my invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this application in which:

Fig. l is a top plan view partly broken away and in section showing a typical dual apron type fiber attenuating apparatus in which the cradle unit of the present invention is employed; v

v Fig. 2 is a sectional view taken generally along the lines- 22 of Fig. 1 and showing the cradle unit of my invention positioned between the front and middle line rolls of the fiber attenuating apparatus;

Fig. 3 is a-perspective view of the cradle unit shown in Figs. 1 and 2, partly broken away and in section; Fig. 4 is a fragmentary side-elevational view of a roll stand adapted for supporting the entire cradle unit and underside of the roll stand;

as shown at 20 in Fig. 3.

Patented Apr. 12, 1960 Fig. 5 is a fragmental top plan view of a modification of the present invention in which separate adjustable stop means for the cradle is provided on the cap bar for the top line rolls; and,

Fig. 6 is a top plan view of adjustable stop means for the cradle positioned on the saddle for the top line rolls.

Referring now to the drawings for a better understanding of my invention, I show in Figs. 1 andZ front line top and bottom roll assemblies 10 and 11, middle line top and bottom roll assemblies 12 and 13, and back line top and bottom roll assemblies 14 and 16, respectively, each assembly comprising a pair of connected rolls. Cap bars, 17, 18 are arranged adjacent the ends of the top roll assemblies and have nebs 19 adjustably spaced thereon for receiving these ends and holding them'in proper alignment.

Upper aprons 21 are arranged around the middle line top roll assembly 12 and are supported forwardly by an upper nose bar 22. Lower aprons 23 are arranged over j the middle line bottom roll assembly 13 and a lower nose bar 24 supports the forward end of lower aprons 23. The ends of nose bars 22, 24 extend laterally beyond the edges of the aprons for securing the nose bars to the cradle unit to be described hereinafter. Preferably, the nose bars 22 and 24 are connected to each other at one end,

A saddle 26 is mounted between the individual rolls of the top line roll assemblies, as shown in Fig. 1, and is provided with the usual weight ing means (not shown) for applying a predetermined weight to the rolls of the fiber attenuating apparatus.

Referring now to Fig. 3, in which my improved cradle thusarranged for horizontal adjustment relative to'roll stand 28.

Guide bars 31 are mounted on support members 27; through slots 32 and securing means such as bolts 33. The guide bars 31 are thus adapted for vertical adjustment relative to the support members 27 and roll stand 28 through the slots 32.

Cradles 34 are slidably mounted on the guide bars 31 and each comprises a pair of vertically extending parallel arms 36 connected to each other through a lower horizontal cross member 37. Each of the arms 36 has a slot 38 on the bottom thereof adapted for receiving an upwardly extending flange on the guide bar 31 and is adapted for sliding movement along guide bar 31 in a horizontal plane. To restrain sliding movement of cradle 34 along the guide bar 31 under normal operating conditions, a spring clip member 39 is secured about the cross member Y37 and extends downwardly therefrom to bear against the guide bar 31 as shown. It is understood that the tension or clamping action of the clip member 39 can be overcome by manual pressure against the cradle 34 or the lower end of the clip member- 39. Accordingly; the cradle 34 can be moved along guide bar 31whenpressure is exerted by hand or otherwise. This feature is important in the assembly, adjustment and disassembly of the cradle unit on the fiber attenuating apparatus.

Each of the arms 36 is provided at the upper end there of with first and second vertically spaced notches 41, 42-

respectively. The arms 36 are spaced apart at least the width of the aprons so as to receive the aprons therebetween and are spaced less than the length of the nose Cradle;

flange or extension 43 on the upper end thereof which is adapted for engaging and resting against stop means on the cap bars 17, 18 for positioning the cradles 34 between the front and middle line roll units and out of contact therewith. As shown in Figs. 1 and 2 the lateral extension 43 on the arms 36 engage the nebs 19 for the middle line top rolls and are positioned thereby out of engagement with the rolls. It has been found that engagement of the lateral extension of one of the arms 36 with an adjacent neb 19 elfectively retains the cradle 34 in place.

In Fig. 5, I show a modification of my invention in which blocks 44 are adjustably mounted on the cap bars 17 and 18 by suitable set screws 45. The blocks 44 are so positioned that the extensions 43 rest against the adjacent face of the block thereby holding the cradles 34 in proper position. Thus, variable width blocks may be provided or the position of the block may be adjusted to permit the use of standardized cradles for any gauge of frame, gauge being the distance between bosses on the lower line rolls. I As shown in Fig. 6, my cradle assembly is also adapted for use with nebless top line roll units indicated at a, 12a and 14a. The individual top line roll units 10a, 12a and 14a are held in parallel alignment by an overarm unit indicated generally at 45. Mounted for adjustment along the sides of the overarm unit 45 are laterally projecting stop brackets 46 which are in position to engage the lateral extensions 43 on the cradle arms 36 whereby the cradles 34 are correctly positioned between the front and middle line units. Preferably the stop brackets 46 are L-shaped and are held in selected positions along the overarm unit by suitable means, such as screws 46a. The overarm unit 45 may be aligned by means of an alignment bar 45a at the rear of the roll units.

As shown in Fig. 4, the roll stand 28 supports a hearing block 47 for the front line bottom roll assembly 11 and a bearing block 48 for the middle and back line bottom roll assemblies 13, 16. In order to position properly the guide bar 31 in parallel and horizontal alignment with the middle line bottom roll bearings and at a predetermined distance from the bearings, a point such as 49 may be punched on bearing block 48. By thus positioning guide bar 31, the cradles 34 are correctly positioned between the front and middle line rolls.

To install my cradle unit in a dual type apron fiber attenuating apparatus the horizontal support member 27 is secured in proper horizontal relation on the underside of the roll stand 28 and the guide bars 31 are arranged on support 27 in the predetermined position indicated by the mark 49 on bearing block 48. For installation of support member 27 and guide bars 31 it is not necessary to remove any of the roll assemblies in the fiber attenuating apparatus.

The next step involves the arrangement of the cradle on guide bar 31 and in this step it is necessary that the front and the middle line top roll assemblies 10 and 12 respectively, be removed from the apparatus. After removal of the necessary rolls, the slots 38 are positioned on guide bar 31, as shown in Fig. 2, and clip member 39 is snapped into place whereby it engages the bar 31 thereby holding the cradle 34 in proper position on guide bar 31 and restraining sliding movement of the cradle relative to the guide bar. Cradle 34 is then moved longitudinally of the guide bar 31 until the extension 43 is out of contact with neb 19. In view of the fact that the cradle 34 is arranged on guide bar 31 so that it can be pivoted, the outturned flanges or extensions 43 can be moved relative to the nebs 19 and thus, the cradle 34 can be 'pivoted rearwardly against the middle line bottom roll assembly 13 while the extensions 43 are so positioned that they do not contact nebs 19. While the cradle 34 is against the middle line bottom roll assembly 13, the upper and lower nose bars 22 and 24 are inserted through the aprons 21 and 23 respectively. The upper nose bar 22 is then positioned in notches 41 and the lower nose bar 24 is positioned in notches 42 on the arms 36 of the cradle 34. The cradle 34 is then positioned whereby the extensions 43 on the arms 36 adjacent the nebs 19 contact the forward face of the nebs. In this position there is tension on the lower apron 23 which may be adjusted by movement of the nebs 19. The middle line top roll assembly 12 is then inserted through the upper apron 21 and the ends of the middle line top roll assembly 12 are inserted in the nebs 19. The tension of the top apron is predetermined due to the fact that the thickness of the neb between the forward face thereof and the slot is always uniform. The tension in both the top and bottom aprons 21, 23 is thus uniform and there is no contact between the cradles 34 and the roll assemblies. Thus, the aprons are maintained in a taut relation through the engagement of the extension 43 on one arm of the cradle 34 against the forward face of a neb 19, and the engagement of the ends of the middle line top roll assembly 12 with nebs 19. The extension 43 at the side of the cradle 34 opposite the nebs 19 is preferably free and extends beneath the saddle 26. The reason for providing the extension 43 at both sides of the cradle is for uniformity of production and interchangeability in the frame.

For removal of an apron or a cradle the steps for installation thereof are reversed and either the installation or removal may be accomplished with the fiber attenuating apparatus in operation and without disturbing the processing, or delivery of yarn to other spindles on the frame. It is understood that the modifications for posi tioning the cradles 34 as shown in Figs. 5 and 6, can be employed in similar manner.

With the modification shown in Fig. 5, the tension on the upper and lower aprons 21 and 23 respectively, may be established by the location of block 44 and in addition the tension of the top apron 21 may be established independently by adjustment of neb 19 without disturb ing the location of block 44. While apron tension adjustments are rarely necessary, except on initial installation, they are nevertheless very important in producing quality and uniform yarn.

From the foregoing, it is seen that I have devised an improved cradle unit for fiber attenuating apparatus which does not engage in any manner the rolls of such apparatus and thereby obviates friction and wear of the cradle. Further, the cradles are adapted for adjustment in both a horizontal and vertical plane relative to the top line roll assemblies and for sliding movement along a guide bar in parallel relation to the middle line top roll assembly. Thus, practically any desired posi tion of the cradle can be obtained by my cradle unit. In addition, the cradles of my improved unit form the sole support means for the nose bars supporting the aprons and the installation and removal of the cradle unit can be easily performed in a minimum of time while the fiber attenuating apparatus is in operation.

While I have shown my invention in several forms, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that it is not so limited, but is susceptible of various changes and modifications without departing from the spirit thereof, and I desire, therefore, that only such limitations shall be placed thereupon as are specifically set forth in the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. In a cradle unit for apron type fiber attenuating apparatus including front and middle line top rolls and a supporting roll stand, a horizontal support member adjustably attached to said roll stand, a vertically adjustable guide bar mounted on said horizontal support member, and a cradle slidably mounted for horizontal adjustment along said guide bar and extending upwardly between said front and middle line top T0118 and out of engagementtherewith.

2. In a cradle unit for apron type fiber attenuating apparatus including front and middle line top rolls, a horizontal support member extending substantially parallel to said rolls, a cradle slidably mounted on said suppolt member and extending upwardly therefrom between said front and middle line top rolls and out-of contact therewith, said cradle comprising a pair of upstanding arms and a cross member connecting said arms, and means arranged between said cross member and said support memher for restraining said cradle against sliding movement relative to said support member.

3. In a cradle unit for apron type fiber attenuating apparatus including front and middle line top rolls with nebs adjustably mounted on cap bars for receiving the ends of said middle line top roll, a horizontal support member extending substantially parallel to said rolls, a cradle mounted on said support member and extending upwardly therefrom between said front and middle line top rolls and out of contact therewith, said cradle comprising a pair of upstanding arms connected to each other, and stop means on'said cap bar engaging oneof said arms and positioning said cradle out of contact with said middle line 'roll.

4. In a cradle unit for apron type fiber attenuating apparatus having top and bottom, front and middle line drawing rolls, a roll stand, a horizontal guide bar attached to said roll stand, a cradle having a pair of spaced parallel arms extending upwardly between theifront and middle line top rolls and out of contact with said rolls, means mounting the cradle adjacent its lower end on said guide bar for pivotal movement in a general vertical plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the guide bar, an upper nose bar supporting an upper apron for the middle line top roll and a lower nose bar supporting a lower apron for the middle line bottom roll, said arms engaging and solely supporting both said lower and upper nose bars, and means engaging said cradle positioning said cradle out of contact with said middle line rolls and holding said cradle in a forward selected position against apron pull.

5. In a cradle unit for apron type fiber attenuating apparatus having top and bottom, front and middle line rolls with nebs mounted on cap bars for receiving the ends of said middle line top roll and a supporting roll stand, a horizontal member adjustably attached on the underside of said roll stand for horizontal adjustment thereon, a vertically adjustable guide bar mounted on said horizontal member, a cradle slidably mounted for horizontal adjustment along said guide bar and extending upwardly between said front and middle line rolls and out of contact therewith, said cradle comprising a pair of parallel arms and a cross member extending between and connecting said arms, means restraining said cradle against sliding movement relative to said guide bar, an upper nose bar supporting an apron for the middle line top roll and a lower nose bar supporting an apron for the middle line bottom roll, said arms engaging and solely supporting both said lower and upper nose bars, and stop means on said cap bar engaging at least one of said arms thereby positioning said cradle out of contact with said middle line rolls.

6. In a cradle unit for apron type fiber attenuating apparatus as defined in claim and further characterized in that each of said arms has first and second vertically spaced notches therein adapted for receiving the ends of said nose bars, and said one arm has a lateral extension thereon engaging said stop means.

7. A cradle for a double apron type fiber attenuating apparatus having upper and lower pairs of front and middle line rolls with nebs mounted on cap bars to receive the ends of said middle line top roll, and nose bars supporting top and bottom aprons on the middle line rolls, said cradle comprising a pair of spaced parallel arms extending upwardly between said front and middle line rolls and being spaced at least the width of the aprons for receiving the aprons therebetween, said arms engaging and solely supporting the ends of the top and bottom nose bars, one of said arms having a lateral extension on the.

upper end thereof, and means on the cap bar adjacent said one arm engaging said lateral extension thereby positioning said cradle out of contact with said middle line rolls.

8. A cradle for a double apron type fiber attenuating apparatus. as defined in claim 7 and further characterized comprising a pair of vertical arms extending upwardly between said front and middle line rolls and a cross mem'- ber extending between and connecting said arms,'the-bottom of said arms being slotted for receiving horizontal support means therebeneath and being slidably mounted thereon, means restraining sliding movement of said cradle along said support means, said arms being spaced at least the width of the aprons and receiving the aprons therebetween, and said arms engaging and solely supporting the ends of the top and bottom nose bars.

10. In a cradle unit for a double apron type fiber at tenuating apparatus having top and bottom front and middle line rolls with, nebs adjustably mounted on capbars engaging the ends of the middle line top roll and nose bars supporting top and bottom aprons, a horizontal 7 support member, a vertically adjustable guide bar mounted on said support member and in parallel relation thereto, a cradle extending upwardly between said front and middle line rolls and comprising a pair of vertical arms, and a cross. member extending between and connecting said arms, the bottom of said arms being slotted for receiving said guide bar ther'ebeneath and being slidably mounted thereon, means restraining sliding movement of said cradle along said guide bar, said arms being spaced at least the Width of the aprons and receiving the aprons therebetween while engaging and solely supporting the ends of the top and bottom nose bars, a lateral extension on one of said arms being disposed adjacent a cap bar for said nebs, and means on said cap bar for engaging said lateral extension thereby positioning said cradle out of contact with said middle line rolls.

11. In a cradle unit for apron type fi-ber attenuating apparatus-having top and bottom, front and middle line rolls, a horizontal support member, a vertically adjustable guide bar mounted on said horizontal support member, a cradle slidably mounted for horizontal adjustment along said guide bar and extending upwardly between said front and middle line rolls and out of contact therewith, said cradle comprising a pair of parallel arms and a cross member extending between and connecting said arms, means restraining said cradle against sliding movement relative to said guide bar, an upper nose bar supporting an apron for the middle line top roll and a lower nose bar supporting an apron for the middle line bottom roll, said arms engaging and solely supporting both said lower and upper nose bars, and means engaging the upper end of at least one of said arms and positioning said cradle out of contact with said middle line rolls.

12.. In a cradle unit for a double apron type fiber attenuating apparatus supported by a roll stand and having top and bottom, front and middle line rolls with an overarm on the top line rolls and nose bars supporting top and bottom aprons, a horizontal support member mounted for horizontal adjustment on the roll stand and extending substantially parallel to said rolls, a vertically adjustable guide bar mounted on said support member and in parallel relation thereto, a cradle extending upwardly between said front and middle line rolls and comprising a pair of vertical arms and a cross member extending between and connecting said arms, the bottom of said arms being slotted for receiving said guide bar therebeneath and being slidably mounted thereon, means restraining slid-' ing movement of said cradle along said guide bar, said arms being spaced at least the width of the aprons and receiving the aprons therebetween while engaging and solely supporting the ends of the top and bottom nose bars, at least one of said arms having a lateral extension on the upper end thereof, and adjustable means on said overarm for engaging said lateral extension, whereby said cradle is positioned out of contact with said middle line rolls.

13. A cradle unit as defined in claim 12 in which the adjustable means on the overarm comprises L-shaped stop brackets mounted for adjustment along the overarm. 14. In a cradle unit for apron type fiber attenuating apparatus including top and bottom front line rolls, top and bottom middleline rolls and a supporting roll stand, a horizontal guide bar adjustably attached to said roll stand, a cradle extending upwardly between said front and middle line rolls and out of engagement therewith, there being a recess adjacent the bottom of said cradle for receiving said horizontal guide bar whereby the cradle is pivotally supported by said guide bar, means detachably connecting said cradle to said guide bar, and means holding said pivoted cradle in a selected forward position against apron pull.

' 15. Apparatus as defined in claim 5 in which the means restraining the cradle against sliding movement relative to the guide bar comprises a spring clip member secured about the cross-member of the cradle and extending downwardly therefrom to bear against the guide bar.

16. In a cradle unit for dual apron type fiber attenuating apparatus including top and bottom, front and middle line drawing rolls with nebs mounted on cap bars for receiving the ends of the middle line top roll and a supporting roll stand, a horizontal support member extending.

arms to position said cradle out of contact with said middle line rolls and apply tension to said aprons, and means for adjusting the position of said nebs along said cap bars independent of said adjustable stop means whereby the tension of the upper apron may be varied independently of the lower apron tension adjustment.

References Cited in the file of this patent FOREIGN PATENTS 662,625 Germany July 18, 1938 719,526 Germany Apr. 10, 1942 721,046 Germany May 22, 1942 

